Safety-guard for watches



(No Model.)

J. LEHR.

SAFETY GUARD FOR WATCHES. No. 364,528. Patented June 7, 1887.

Ates; jhvezzaz ZZZ/ P224 799 Jo/iz ZZ fii g RMMW'S N PETERS, Pmwmmm m wmw n10 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN LEHR, OF DARMSTADT, intrnots.

SAFETY-GUARD FOR WATCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,528 dated June 7, 1887.

Application filed February 2,1887. Serial No. 226,252. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN LEIIR, of Darmstadt, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Guards for Watches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure'I is a side view of my safeguard attachment for watches with the shield in its operative position preventing the projection of the claws or spurs. Fig. II is a section on line II IV, Fig. I, showing the pivotal attachment of the spurs within the case and the perforations in the shield,through which they 01) trude and fasten in the pocket-lining when pickpockets attempt to withdraw the watch. Fig. III is a section online II IV, Fig. I, showing the spurs obtruding to arrest the withdrawal of the watch; and Fig. IV is a section on line II IV, Fig. I, showing the spurs within the case and the rotary shield turned round, so that the perforations in the shield are not in corresponding position with those in the inner casein which the points of the spurs engage. As shown in this figure, the watch can be taken from the pocket without any obstruction.

My invention relates to a tell-tale safeguard for watches, $50., against the depredations of pickpockets 5 and my invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described,

and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, inwhich similar figures indicate like parts in all the views, 1 represents my safeguard for the preservation of watches, &c., from the depred ations of pickpockets, and 2 is the lower part or cup of the inclosing-case,in which engages the cap 3. The two parts are preferably united by a screwthreaded joint, 4; but they may be attached in any other suitable way.

5 represent a short pistonrod that slides in a perforation, 6, through the dome of the cap. This rod is provided on its outer end with an attachment-ring, 7, for connection with the watch guard or chain. This ring may be and is preferably pivoted at 8 to the end of the rod 3 but it may be riveted or otherwise secured.

9 representsa crucial head securelyattaehed to the lower end of the piston-rod. The head is provided with four pairs of perforated lugs, 10, in which the pivots 11 of spurs 12 have their bearings.

13 represents a rotary shield that incases the side of the dome of the cap. The shield is seated around the shoulder 14 of the cup of the case, and is confined within the circumferential groove 15, formed beneath and by the proj eating ring-bead-lfi, that surrounds and crowns the cap of the case.

Ierforations 17 through the dome of the cap, with corresponding perforations, 18, through the rotary shield, when those in the rotary shield are brought into coincident position with those in the inner cap, allow the spurs free egress when the piston is withdraw by the guard or chain drawing on it to abstract the watch; but if, on the other hand, the rotary otherwise securely attached to the cup of the case.

A projecting collar, 21, on the piston limits the extent of its withdrawal.

I have described my invention as a' safetyguard for watches; but it is also applicable as a safeguard attachment for purses, portc-monnaies, &c.

It will be seen that when my safeguard device is set in its operative position the watch, purse, or other object that it guards cannot be abstracted from the pocket by pickpockets, for when the guard or chain is withdrawn the piston-rod is drawn out and the four pivoted spurs find egress through the perforations of the cap and shield, the attitude of the spurs becoming more grasping the fart-her the piston-rod is withdrawn. The spurs enter the lining of the pocket and effectually arrest the abstraction of the watch or other object under guard.

WVhen the ownerof the watch,8tc.,is at home, or in any place where there is no danger of pickpockets, he keeps the spurs retired within the case,the shield being in position to bar their egress; but if he enters a neighborhood where there is danger of piekpocketspvith his forefinger and thumb he can turn the shield without taking the device out of his pocket. He can easily distinguish when the points of the spurs slightly engage in the perforations in the shield preparatory to their egress when the piston-rod is withdrawn by the chain being pulled by the piekpoekets endeavors to abstract the watch. The'ease with which the owner can thus set the guard to protect his property without attracting the attention of pickpoekets in a crowd is a noteworthy feature in the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In a safety-guard for watches, the eo1nbination of the perforated casing having suitable means of attachment for the watch, a rod car- JOHN LEHR. In presence of BENJN. A. KNIGHT, SAML, KNIGHT. 

